Bernie Ecclestone faces final lap at F1 in bribery trial

Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone said he remained confident as he went on trial on Thursday for bribery in Germany in a case that could end the Briton's decades-long dominance of the motor sport.

Prosecutors in Munich have charged Mr Ecclestone, 83, with bribing jailed banker Gerhard Gribkowsky to smooth the sale eight years ago of a stake in Formula One to private equity firm CVC. They say that Mr Ecclestone favoured CVC because it was committed to keeping him on as chief executive.

"I'm confident, the sun is shining," a dark-suited Mr Ecclestone told camera crews jostling to film his entry into the Munich courtroom. He faces up to 10 years in jail if convicted.

Despite his age, Ecclestone attends almost every grand prix race and remains central to the sport's commercial success. He has always dismissed talk of retirement and there is no obvious replacement when he does finally quit or is forced out.